In order to plug gaps, the Union Cabinet introduced the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Act, 2019 (“IBC Amendment Act”). It did not prefer the ordinance route like previous amendments and instead brought in an Act to tackle the problems with the Code. A press release dated July 17, 2019, by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (“MCA”) clarified that the Act is an effort to remove the complications in the CIRP. The same Act has now been enforced as law. The features of the Act are: 1. The Act speaks volumes about the legislative emphasis on a time-bound conclusion of the CIRP. The Act, with a view to eliminating bottlenecks…

After suffering a major setback in the case of Dharani Sugars and Chemicals Ltd. v. Union of India (“Dharani”) where its Feb 12 Circular was struck down, RBI has come back with a more prudent and humble framework under the “Reserve Bank of India (Prudential Framework for Resolution of Stressed Assets) Directions 2019” (“2019 Directions”), inter alia, choosing to abandon mandatory insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”). This article seeks to make a thorough analysis of the new resolution framework under the 2019 Directions, comment on it and test it on the touchstone of Dharani. [We have analysed the Dharani Judgement at length, here. Furthermore, a thorough…

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (“IBC”) was enacted to provide a legal framework for the effective resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy of corporate persons, individuals and partnership firms. It was welcomed because it worked for the benefit of the creditor as well as debtor. With the increasing challenges and pendency in adjudication and the consistent failures in meeting the 180-day deadline, parties have started figuring out means outside of the IBC to reorganise/appropriate their assets and come out of insolvency or effect an efficacious liquidation. [Shiphali Patel is a student of 4th year BA LL.B (Hons.) at Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow] Background In the case of…

Amidst much speculations in the FinTech sector, the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) released the Draft Enabling Framework for Regulatory Sandbox, 2019 (“Draft Framework”) on 18th April 2019 aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and innovation in the Indian financial sector, especially for FinTech start-ups. This article seeks to discuss various important clauses of the Draft Framework and examine them in light of the objectives sought to be achieved by it and thereafter, suggest some changes. [Mansi Mishra is a student of second year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) at the National Law Institute University, Bhopal] About the Draft Framework The object behind the Draft Framework is to set up Regulatory Sandbox (“RS”)…

The modus operendi to achieve an optimum insolvency regime is to critically analyse the performance of the legislation on the basis of the effects it has on the overall business and credit market. Thus critiquing its efficiency is an important element of any codified law in a country. This need is even more imperative not only because of the number of applications under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“Code”) but because of the increasing use of this new mechanism to achieve the enforcement of debt obligations and reorganization outside the formal process under the Code, as an arm twisting means, making it more onerous to investigate its effectiveness and efficiency.…

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“Code”) has been enacted with an objective of consolidating and amending the laws relating to reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time-bound manner. It aims at maximisation of value of assets of such corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals, promoting entrepreneurship, ensuring availability of credit and balancing the interests of all stakeholders. The author, in this articles, aims to cover the provisions related to the rights of employees under the Code to recover their unpaid wages and salaries from the Corporate Debtor and bring out a picture about how such provisions act as a boon for them. [Dulung Sengupta…

A bench of the Hon’ble Supreme court of India comprising of Justices R. F. Nariman and Vineet Saran, in the case of Dharani Sugars and Chemicals Ltd. v. Union of India (“Dharani”) have invalidated the Reserve Bank of India’s (“RBI”) Circular titled ‘Resolution of Stressed Assets – Revised Framework’ (issued on 12.02.2018) (“Feb 12 Circular”) as being ultra vires the Banking Regulation Act, 1885 (“BR Act”) and the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (“RBI Act”). This Circular had overhauled the Indian regime of stressed asset resolution and introduced the generic scheme of a resolution plan to be implemented within 180 days from the date of the default on the loan. Furthermore, where the…

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“Code”) has arguably been one of the foremost developments in the Indian financial laws in recent times. While the Code has proven to be (or made to be) contentious in what seems to be almost every aspect of its substance and procedure, a new facet has been added to the realm of concerns under the new insolvency regime. In 2018, having reneged on its obligations under approved resolution plans for Amtek Auto Ltd and Adhunik Metaliks Ltd, Liberty house, the successful bidder or the supposed knight in shining armour for these insolvent firms has opened up the proverbial Pandora’s box of shortcomings and indecisions under…

The Hon’ble High Court of Bombay in the case of Tayal Cotton (Pvt.) Ltd. Vs. State of Maharashtra has held that the moratorium stipulated under Section 14 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“Code”) does not bar the initiation or continuance of any criminal proceedings against the Corporate Debtor. This Article seeks to analyze the decision and set out the reasoning of the Hon’ble Court behind the same. Moratorium Order Explained Under the Code, where an application for the initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (“CIRP”) is admitted by the NCLT, a moratorium order is affected with regard to the Corporate Debtor under Section 13 of the Code. Moreover, under Section…

The Impact The Notification has not done away with the conciliatory means to be employed by the lenders to course correct the stressed account upon default, it has only been rebranded in the wide ambit of a ‘Resolution Plan’ which encompasses, in essence, all of the tools under the previous regime[1]. The major change in the regime however is the stipulation of pursuing the debt in default under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, where there is failure in the implementation of the Resolution Plan. The notification is only an exercise in the implementation of the statutory power that has been bestowed upon the RBI[2]. The Notification makes the RBI’s…